Amended in Assembly March 28, 2014

California Legislature—2013–14 Regular Session

Assembly Bill No. 2529

Introduced by Assembly Member Williams

February 21, 2014

begin delete An act to amend Section 26004 of the Public Resources Code, relating to energy. end delete begin insert An act to add Section 25327 to the Public Resources Code, relating to energy. end insert

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 2529, as amended, Williams. begin delete Energy: alternative energy and advanced transportation. end delete begin insert Energy: usage: plug-in equipment. end insert

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Existing law requires the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission (Energy Commission), on a biennial basis, to conduct assessments and forecasts of all aspects of energy industry supply, production, transportation, delivery, and distribution. Existing law requires the Energy Commission, beginning November 1, 2003, and biennially thereafter, to adopt an integrated energy policy report containing an overview of major energy trends and issues facing the state.

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Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission has regulatory jurisdiction over the public utilities, including electrical corporations.

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This bill would require the Energy Commission and the Public Utilities Commission, working jointly, to perform a baseline study of energy usage by plug-in equipment, as defined, in 2014 and to develop a coordinated implementation plan to achieve by 2030 specified aggregate reductions in energy consumption by plug-in equipment from the 2014 baseline, with biennial intermediate targets. The bill would require the Energy Commission to report on the progress towards meeting the reduction targets and update the implementation plan as a part of the integrated energy policy report.

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Existing law establishes the California Alternative Energy and Advanced Transportation Financing Authority consisting of specified members and authorizes the authority to provide financial assistance to projects related to the utilization of alternative energy sources or advanced transportation technologies.

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This bill would make a technical, nonsubstantive change to this law.

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Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee:  begin delete no end delete begin insert yes end insert . State-mandated local program: no.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

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begin insert SECTION 1. end insert   

(a) The Legislature finds and declares all of the
following:

(1) Energy efficiency programs and standards are essential
tools to help California conserve energy.

(2) Currently, plug-in equipment, such as indoor and outdoor
appliances, consumer and office electronics, and power tools, are
responsible for nearly 60 percent of residential building electricity
consumption in California and their electricity consumption are
projected to increase by 2030.

(3) California has set ambitious goals for energy efficiency in
buildings and lighting, but does not have quantified goals for a
category that represents the majority of residential building
electricity consumption.

(4) Large and cost-effective energy savings opportunities remain
available in plug-in equipment through a combination of incentive
programs, partnerships with industry, research and development,
consumer education, and efficiency standards.

(5) Challenges with the attribution of business and consumer
electronics program savings to utilities and implementers are
limiting the effective utilization of these programs to capture
savings opportunities in residential and commercial plug-in
electronics.

(b) It is the intent of the Legislature to set a goal for plug-in
equipment energy consumption to ensure both of the following:

(1) Energy savings opportunities in support of the state’s energy
and climate change goals are captured.

(2) The effective utilization of incentive programs, partnerships
with industry, research and development, consumer education,
and efficiency standards to meet the state’s energy and climate
goals.

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begin insert SEC. 2. end insert   

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begin insert Section 25327 is added to the end insert begin insert Public Resources Code end insert begin insert ,
to read: end insert

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begin insert 25327. end insert   

(a) (1) For the purposes of this section, except as
provided in paragraph (2), “plug-in equipment” means an
electrical device that plugs into a wall outlet, including, but not
limited to, indoor appliances, such as kitchen and laundry
appliances, commercial plug-in refrigeration, and security
appliances; outdoor appliances, such as hot tubs and pool pumps
and heaters; consumer and office electronics; personal care
products; and power tools.

(2) “Plug-in equipment” does not include the following:

(A) Servers at industrial-scale data centers located in buildings
whose primary function is to be a data center.

(B) Heating, ventilation, and cooling (HVAC) equipment.

(C) Built-in or portable lighting.

(D) Infrastructure loads connected directly to the building
wiring, such as Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) breakers
and outlets, smoke or carbon monoxide detectors, dimming
switches, doorbells, and garage openers.

(E) Electric vehicles.

(F) Medical devices as defined in subsection (h) of Section 321
of Title 21 of the United States Code.

(b) The commission and the Public Utilities Commission,
working jointly, shall do all of the following:

(1) Perform a baseline study of energy use by plug-in equipment
in residential and commercial sectors of the state in 2014.

(2) Develop a coordinated implementation plan to achieve by
2030 at least a 30 percent aggregate reduction in energy
consumption per residential household, and 50 percent aggregate
reduction in energy consumption per square foot of commercial
space, by plug-in equipment in the state from the 2014 baseline
determined pursuant to paragraph (1), with biennial intermediate
targets between 2016 to 2030.

(3) Work with stakeholders to address challenges that may
inhibit the achievement of the reduction targets set forth in
paragraph (2), including, but not limited to, the attribution of
energy savings associated with business and consumer electronics
programs.

(4) Track the implementation of the plan in meeting the
reduction targets annually through the Electricity Supply Analysis
Division of the commission and the Energy Division of the Public
Utilities Commission.

(c) The commission shall report on the progress towards meeting
the reduction targets through the tracking pursuant to paragraph
(4) of subdivision (b) and update the implementation plan, as a
part of the integrated energy policy report required pursuant to
Section 25302.

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SECTION 1.  

Section 26004 of the Public Resources Code is
amended to read:

26004.  

(a) There is in the state government the California
Alternative Energy and Advanced Transportation Financing
Authority. The authority constitutes a public instrumentality and
the exercise by the authority of powers conferred by this division
is the performance of an essential public function.

(b) The authority shall consist of five members, as follows:

(1) The Director of Finance.

(2) The Chairperson of the State Energy Resources Conservation
and Development Commission.

(3) The President of the Public Utilities Commission.

(4) The Controller.

(5) The Treasurer, who shall serve as the chairperson of the
authority.

(c) The members listed in subdivision (b) may each designate
a deputy or clerk in his or her agency to act for and represent the
member at all meetings of the authority.

(d) The first meeting of the authority shall be convened by the
Treasurer.

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